Extendible truck construction



H. R. BRUAH. EXTENDABLE TRUCK coNsTucTloN. A

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1920.

Patented" loot. 44, 1921.

`transmission casing. i

UNITED sizxri-:s

PArlaiNr OFFICE.

HOWARDR. BRUAH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTENDIBLE TRUCK covNsTnUoTioNr.

tion of a standard construction onv the mar-- ket by adding thereto anextension frame and providing devices for eliminating` inherent defects-in said truck construction.

In a certain truck construction they rear end is supported upon the rearaxle by a cross spring and the axle. is braced by means of radius' rods extending directly to the vThe propeller shaft extending from the'rearv axle to the transmission casing alsov makes a` rigid connection asa resultof which, while the device answers satisfactorily when used without-ex,-

tensive jars or strains, the transmission casing and the parts contained therein and connected therewith are subjected to' ex-V Y cessive strains when l the rear wheels are subjected to excessive shockssuch for example as'backing against a curb. This has caused considerable difficulty in the past and' itis an object of my invention to provide devices standard construction for modifying this strengthen the deand at the same time to vvice soY that-it is (capable ofV handlingra heavier load. -V Y I .Y i p .My 'invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Y Figure 1 shows in plan view the frame work of the standard truck under consideration andmy attachments thereto, and

Fig.l 2 vshows the parts shown in Fig. 1 in side: elevation. I

n vSimilar numerals refer' to similar parts throughout the several views.

- lAs'shown inthe drawings the frame 1() of the standard truck :construction is provided atits front end with retransmission vcasing 11 supported in a .Well known manthe rearaxle 12 of said f ner not shown, and

Vtruck is shown moved to the extreme rear vend of the frame' 10.` ln extension frame 13 is disposed outside of the frame 10 and to the rear of the rear end of said frame and is lsecured to the frame at its front end Specification of Letters Patent.

'Application led February 2, 1920.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

serial No. 355,617. Y

by bolts 14 and at the rear end of the frame 10 said extension frame is secured thereto by means of the plates15 connecting the two frames together so that ytheyiin effect constitute one frame. The spring and parts originally connecting the axle 12 with the frame 1() arejremovedan'd instead, said axle is connected by longitudinally extendingv side springs 16 to the side members of the frame 13; The springs are connected with the axle in anyy desired manner-as for example by meansof bolts 17 the front end of each spring being connected as indicated in Fig. 2 at 18 by means of a pivotal connection vtothe frame 13, while .the rear end of each spring asindicated in said figure is pivotally connected with the lower end of a 'link 19 the upper end of which is connected at 20 with the side member of the frame 13 .thus constituting Hotchkiss drive. struction any strain exerted iiponthe rear axle by the'wwheels connected therewith, is communicated directly through thesprings what is known as. the

As a result'of thiscon-v 16 at their pivotally connections 18to the frame '13. A I Y The propeller shaft 21, originally a 'part of the truck construction, Vextends forward from the axle Y12 to-.a universal jointv connec-tion 22 supported in my construction by aV cross barl 23 *the endsl of through the slots 24 in the side members of theframe 1Q. The rea-r end of the transmis# sion casing 11 which is leftf'open by the removal. of the housing of-therear portion of the universal jointy 22 lar,` shaft 25 projects rearwardly from gthe transmission mechanism, this tubular shaft beingengaged by a short shaft l.26 extending yforwardly Vfromy the universal joint 22, the

engagement'between the shafts'25 and 26 being effected by means of a feather key' 27 so that one: shaft may move longitudinally relatively to the. other but thatfrelative lrotation 'between said "n shafts is impossible. The .radius rods 28y nal truck construction extend in 'my improved construction from the rear axle to the housing of the universal connection 22.

construction, While the propeller shaft 21 originally connected the rear axle directly with the transmission casing 11 without longitudinal slip of any kind, I provide a means for permitting longitudinal motion which extend employed ink the origi-y is' inclosed -by a suitablecap 24: through which a short tubu-I From the above `it will appear that by my of the propellershaft 21 by means of the slip joint between the shafts 25 and 26, since the cross member 23 may slide longitudinally of the truck frame lO'as the rear axle moves up and dow-n relatively t0 the frame or when for any other reason it is slightly displaced longitudinally of the frame. It Vwill further appear that since the radius rods are now connected casing of the universal joint 22 that there isV no connection whatever between the rear axle and the transmission casing, as a result of which none ofthe blows or shocks to which the rear axle and wheels connected therewith' are subjected will be communicated to the transmission casing., yLateral motionof the cross member 23 relatively to the frameflO is prevented by shoulders on the end of said cross; member adjacent the smaller portions extending into theislots 24. While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will beunderstood that I do not limit my- Self to this exact construction as I may ployequivalents known yto the art 'at lthe time of the filing of this'applicationv wit-hout departing from the scope* of the appended claims. f f f It will be understood, that by my invention, to` produce the improved truck construction, the original assembly consisting turbed `and cross spring ofthe rear l ential gearing connectingthem, is -`not disthat afsomewhat longer vwheel ibase results than that of the original truck,

' since v'the front endv ofthe original truck including the transmission casing and its gear'- in remains undisturbed. 'Y VvIVhat Ijc'laim isz'V v j As 'a means for re-building' a truck havinga -rear axle, differential gearing on said axle, a transmission mechanism, a propellerv shaft rigidly connecting said ldifferentialgearing and said transmission mechanism longitudinally, a main frame fand a between said frame and said i axle, in' combination with said rear'axle,

differential gearing and propeller shaft, transmission mechanism, andr`- said main frame, anextension frame, rigid connections between said frames, side springs between sia-id extension frame and said axle engaging at their ends fixed pivot said extension frame, a cross `member on said main frame sup 'or'tingthe front end Aofsaid propellerv s aft, andV driving devices connecting said Vtransmission*mechanism and the'front lend of saidpropeller shaftpermitting longitudinal' slip in said connecting devices, said cross member having sliding Y supports at its ends'carried by saidl vmain frame. v L f' directly with the Y axle, .propeller shaft and 'differ-- comprising a mainframe,

mission mechanism vand connected-without longitudinal slip to said shaft, theV combination of anextension frame for connection with said 'main frame ling, side springs constitutin fixed radius between said ax frame, ay cross member for; "frontend of said sha-ft,

rods carried by 2. In ak device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rear axle, side springs constituting connections of fixed radius between said axle and frame, a propellershaft, gearing connecting said shaft and axle, transmission gearing, drivingl devices connecting said transmission gearing" and the front end of said shaft and permitting longitudinal slip, a cross member supporting the front end of said shaft, and supports carried by said frame for the'ends of said member permitting movement of, said member longitudinally of the frame.V 3. As a means for rebuilding an assembly comprising a main frame, a rear axle secured thereto, a propeller shaft, gearing connecting said axle and said shaft and preventing longitudinal motion of said shaft, and transmission mechanism carried 'Y by said frame and connected without longitudinal slip to said shaft, the combination of an extension frame for connection with said main frame to :support'said assembled axle and shaftdisconnected from said transmission( gearing'to the lrear of ytheir original position relatively .to said transmission springs constituting connections of fixed radius between said axle and extension frame, a cross member for supporting the front end of said shaft, said member having ksupports at its ends permitting sliding movement, and driving devices having v'longitudinal slip for connecting said'transmission gearing with the Afront end of "said'shaftV y4. As a means for rebuilding anassembly a rearaxlesecured thereto, a propeller shaft, gearing connecting said axle and said shaft Vand' preventing longitudinal motion of said shaft, and transcarried by said frame gearing, side tosupport said'assemble'dV axle and shaft ,disconnectedfrom said transmission gearing "to the yreareoftheir original positionrelatively to said transmissiongeari connectionsof e and extension supportingv the said member having supports at its ends permitting sliding movement, driving devicesV having longitudinal with the front end of said shaft, and radius 4rods extending 'between' Vthe, supports ,for

HowARD-nBnUAH-j ,slip for connecting said'transmissionf gearing l, 

